THE Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has intensified efforts to locate the black box of the police helicopter that crashed into Sungai Pulai near the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) jetty earlier this morning.
Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the search operation is being conducted in collaboration with several agencies, including the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), APMM, and other technical experts.
“We are still awaiting data from the black box. Efforts are being coordinated with multiple agencies and involve specialised technical expertise,” he said during a visit to the crash site today.
Also present was Johor Police Chief Datuk M. Kumar.
In addition to locating the black box, authorities are working to recover the wreckage of the helicopter, believed to have sunk to the riverbed.
“The process of lifting the wreckage is expected to take time as it requires specific expertise and equipment for underwater operations,” said Mohd Khalid.
“At this stage, we cannot confirm when the helicopter can be retrieved. I’ve been informed that the river is about 25 feet deep, and that demands highly specialised recovery skills—possibly involving third-party experts,” he added.
The AS355 helicopter, operated by PDRM, crashed while performing a fly-past as part of a demonstration during the Multilateral Nuclear Security Detection Exercise (MITSATOM) 2025, which involves Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore.
CAAM confirmed that the aircraft involved was an AS355N helicopter with the registration number 9M-PHG. It departed from Tanjung Kupang Police Station at 9.51 am, carrying five individuals, including the pilot. - July 10, 2025
